picture taken by Tabor Academy High School science and Astronomy teacher Michael Bentz

This is what the Lord, your protector, says,the one who formed you in the womb:“I am the Lord, who made everything,who alone stretched out the sky,who fashioned the earth all by myself Isaiah 44:24 NET

My help comes from the Lord,the Creator of heaven and earth! Psalms 121:2 NET

The World Gazes at God

A common focus, the community of onlookers, human creatures of the earth, gazing at THE sun of the universe. Exclamations of emotions, expressions of amazement at the celestial experience. Viewing eyes covered and protected, mouths gaping wide with joy mingled with tears, describes the typical image of gazers. The experienced scientists, the newscasters, world travelers, the old, and the young were all impressed with the event that equalized humanity. An apparent reality emerged, as a human creature, we all live under the same sun. The intense darkness that seemed to consume the sun stirred a wonder as the world watched. The action of creation is evidence of the presence God. Opening our senses to the presence of creation will open our awareness of God.

The action of creation is evidence of the presence of God

Sitting alone, in my empty grassy backyard, I observed a 95% blockage of the sun. I felt an exhilaration and awe as I experience the response of nature around me. The insects and birds were still, the temperature dropped as the light faded, I felt a connection with the moment. A connection with THE creator of the sun. Wearing “glasses” with an intense filter allowed me to look directly at the powerful light, an amazing perfectly shaped sphere; placed with a purpose in the ordered universe.

God Creates with a Purpose

The moon is 400 times closer to earth than the sun and the sun is 400 times larger than the moon, a reality that makes a total eclipse possible. A probability steeped with purpose. The gazers, who made intentional plans to view the eclipse, were not disappointed. They were amazed and moved with a positive emotion. The amazement crossed all gender and cultural boundaries. What stirred in their hearts? The wonder of creation? A realization of a divine presence? Why would God arrange an eclipse? I would like to think because he was us to feel this wonderment and joy.

I felt thankful, amazed, cared for, and elated to be known by the creator of this universe. How could anyone gaze upon this celestial event and not feel the wonder, see the light and seek the life that has been given to us by our Father in heaven, the creator? His intricate creation given as a display of His love. His son given as an anchor of His grace for us. My help, my protection, my provision comes from the creator of the universe!

Open, Lord my eyes that I may see. Open, Lord, my ears that I may hear. Open, Lord, my heart and my mind that I may understand the vastness of your presence, provision, protection, and peace authored by your eternal love for your created.

Wonder, by Hillsong, expresses the wonder of life seen in the light of the God’s way of the vivid color of grace and forgiveness.

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Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heartand mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, andacknowledge Him, and He will directand make straight andplain your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMPC)

Challenged, by the daunting task of traveling from downtown Houston to an airport, led me to try a new service (that shall remain un-named). This required the use of an app on my phone. I was going to trust the stranger, who responded to this app, to pick me up and navigate the streets of Houston to transport me to my destination. Crazy!?

Let’s say his name is “Adam”. Adam struggled to find my location. Using my app I located him and directed him, by a phone call, to me and my awaiting suitcase. Adam was smiling and pleasant, however, he struggled to understand my conversation…then it occurred to me…he was not comfortable with my language. I soon discovered, after he missed the first exit, that he could not understand the English speaking Siri on his GPS.

His phone was mounted on an unstable apparatus. In his struggle to stabilize the phone, he ran off the road (for real!). That is when I opened my GPS and began monitoring Adam’s navigation. It gave me some security to know where and how I was going: a sweet security in the palm of my hand.

As he was about to miss another exit I tried to give him “back seat” direction, which he ignored. He could not understand my words any better than Siri’s. The good news is that Adam was able to recover from his mistakes and I arrived at the airport safely and on time.

GPS is not helpful if you can not see, hear or understand the directions.

GPS is short for Global Positioning System, and it has quickly become an integrative part of our society. It is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations.

This amazing system is only helpful if the user is able to know and recognize the directions. As I was holding my GPS in my hand, feeling more secure, I begin to realize that God’s presence in my life is my most trusted GPS – God’s Present Spirit. God is closer than the phone in my hand.

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.I will never abandon you.”

6 So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,so I will have no fear.What can mere people do to me?”Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT

Adam did not know the language of his GPS and could not get a good visual on the map. He was leaning on his own understanding of direction and was failing to find a “clear path”.

I know that God can be trusted but at times I have trouble listening and seeing His presence in my life. When I do not take the time to train myself to seek His presence I miss His direction. The best GPS is God’s Present Spirit.

God’s Present Spirit Gives TRUE Direction

Compared to the divine wisdom of our heavenly Father, my human insight and understanding about a situation is very childlike. When a child’s ball rolls into the street, he lacks the insight to understand the danger of the street. He just wants his ball and will run to reclaim his toy. The trusted loving parent can call out to the child to stop. The child, recognizing the voice of his parent, will stop and look to at them to help him know the safe “path” to retrieve the ball. The small child knows and trusts the voice of his parent.

There are times in my life when my “ball” is out of control. My human insight will direct me toward a certain path…then I receive a caution from God to choose another path. It may not feel natural or even wise in the eyes of world. Trusting God’s Present Spirit directs me to a life giving path, giving me strength and wisdom.

As I make choices in business, tithing, family, friendships and ministry, I trust the voice of God to show me the right path. God has directed me to give generously when it would not be seen as wise in the world’s eyes. The end result was multiple blessings of provision, pointing to the presence of a loving God. God has directed me, at times, to limit my practice. Weeks later I recognized His wisdom as unexpected family needs became a reality.

To lean confidently, trusting in God, I must be able to hear and know his voice. Hearing and knowing require focus and time. Taking time to know my Father through quiet reflection of scripture, vulnerable prayers and the teachings of wise mentors. To focus on anything requires intentionality.

Focus is “acentralpoint,ofattraction,attention,oractivity”.

To be focused with direction or flounder with distractions is a daily choice I get to make. The opportunity for distraction is always present with social media, entertainment, technology, busy schedules. These inevitable give way to weary minds.

The tension between distraction and direction requires discipline in decision. The decision to keep God presence at the forefront of my attraction, attention and activity. Trusting God becomes my motivator to direct my focus to hear His voice and seeking to understand His will instead of being directed by my short sighted wants and wisdom.

Adam had not taken the time to train himself to understand English. This resulted in many wrong turns, misguided understanding of his GPS and a disconnection with the customers he served. We can choose to be trained to know God’s Present Spirit and find the way to our life paths as we trust in Him finding a divine connection as we serve Him.

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For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; The Lord my God illumines my darkness. Psalms 18:28 (AMP) For with You is the fountain of life [the fountain of life-giving water]; In Your light we see light. Psalms 36:9 (AMP)

What a joy that we can live the light! A light of love placed in our souls by our Father. A love we can give – to bring light to the dark and broken of the world. TO LIVE HOPE(FULL)

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

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As a daughter of God I desire to embrace my position as a friend of Christ, who empathizes with my pain and has called me to love others as He has shown me.(John15:15-17, Hebrews 4:14)I amempowered with the same Spirit of Christ to live a life rhythm of grace, love and unselfish giving.(Philippians 2;1-4) As the words in the songTouch the Sky, “‘What treasure waits within Your scars”, I have been given a treasure of redemption. This treasure must be preserved as I thoughtfully, faithfully, confidently live my life with a renewed heart, empowered by the His Spirit,(IITim 1:14)leading others to a relationship with God. (Psalms 51:10-13)

With a joyful heart I am thankful you consider me your friend. Please forgive me when I am not living a life true to our friendship, doubting your power and focusing inwardly on my own fears and selfish resentments. Open my heart to share your merciful love to those that you place in my path. May my words be yours. ~ in Jesus name, AMEN

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You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them,yet they are more than can be told. Psalms 40:5 (ESV)

A drought has dominated the climate in Texas and Oklahoma for many years. This spring, the rains finally came! Lakes and rivers are filling up, ending the desolation of the drought. Recently I visited one of those dry lakes that had been transformed into an oasis, full to the brim. The flood gates of the dam had to be opened allowing water to flow out into the river. Opening the flood gates expanded this oasis, spreading it’s transformation to the parched landscape.

God’s glory is like a lake brimming over. David exclaims, in Psalms 40, that none can compare to the wondrous “deeds and thoughts God has toward us”! David’s feeling of thanksgiving flows from the filling up of God’s Glory as he realizes the truth of God.

Like the flood gates, David is ready to release the overflow of God’s glory in his life. David’s thankfulness in his worship of God, is a proclamation for others to take refuge, trusting and relying on God (v3-4) to realize the transformational impact of the blessings of God.

5.Thankfulness in the worship of God

What is the depth of the filling of blessings in your heart? Is it dry or overflowing?

16 I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers,17 asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better. 18 I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people. Ephesians 1:17-18 (NCV)

The Amplified Version translates v18: “Having the eyes of your heart flooded with light so that you will know and understand the hope..” . Are the “eyes of your heart” able to see God’s blessings in your life?

Thankfulness is a habit, a way of observing life. Abraham had the habit of praising God, giving strength to his unwavering trust. David was habitually earnest as he constantly recalled the deeds of the Lord done, not only on his behalf, but on behalf of the nation of Israel. The leader, Moses, often reminded the people of God’s provision and protection as they were freed from the slavery.

Abraham – No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. Romans 4:20 (AMP)

David – I will (earnestly ) recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will (earnestly) remember the wonders (You performed for our fathers) of old. Psalm 77:11 (AMP)

Moses – But you shall (earnestly) remember the Lord you God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:18 (AMP)

The eyes of faith can look back at life and see the impact of God’s presence. Examining the past with an eye of thanksgiving can enlighten our outlook of the present. Most of us are not in a habit of intentionally looking at life through the lenses of thanksgiving.

The brain, as an organ, wants to conserve energy. Harvard researchers “have found that nearly half our waking hours are spent on autopilot, in which a wandering mind predominates.” The brain is not naturally “earnest“.

Earnest thankfulness will need to be intentional, persistent, and active. The key to changing any mental habit is to give earnest focus. In a recent article on changing habits in Psychotherapy Networker, Steven Stosny, stated that “Mental focus amplifies and magnifies whatever we’re thinking about, making it more important to us”

The driving force behind our thinking is perception. We all have a default, habitual perception; our “autopilot”. Perception may be from the eyes of fear or the eyes of faith. We can chose to run on autopilot or focus on forming a perception based on the reality of God’s truths and presences. Perception is an important key to changing your life. To earnestly change your life, you must begin to change the way you see.

The attitude of gratitudedevelops a perception of thankfulness which requires earnest focus on the glory of God filling our world, our lives, and our hearts. It is our choice to let the filling of our hearts begin and open our flood gates to let the flow of thanksgiving into the lives of others.

As, David, a Sixth century Welsh believer wrote:

Through you His love and light and life can freely flow.

Can you receive His love, light and life to allow it to fill you to the brim?

It may be time to re-valuate your life, to look at your life through the eyes of faith, so you can move forward feeling the gift of thanksgiving. Writing a time line of your life is a way to re-evaluate your perception. I have posted, on my resource page, an example of how to do a life timeline. The key is to examine your life from beginning to end recording times and events that were life giving to you. Self examine how these events had an impact on your faith.

Being more aware of those small things you value is an effective way to strengthen your habit of thankfulness. I.E. The laughter of a child, the voice of your loved one, a cool breeze in June, rain on your skin, the fragrance of flowers, the beauty of each unique sunrise…the list goes on. Journaling any affirmation and appreciations you may have each day can also build your awareness of the filling of God.

Let the eyes of you heart see the Glory of God present in your life and let the flood gates open to let His glory flow!

To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalms 30:12 (AMP)

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Spring is slow to begin in the panhandle of Texas. Our early springs consist of a lot of wind, wild variation of temperature, slow to bloom, scant flowers, promising that the new life of late spring and summer IS COMING. Easter could be in the 30’s or the 80’s with snow or blowing dirt.

It is a popular day for families to attend church in droves and gather for Easter egg hunts, bunnies and food. The colorful array of new “Easter dresses” and new plaid shirts on the little ones (as well as the big ones) make up for the lack of color in the landscape.

Easter is more than a just a day. There is a mystery to Easter. There is deep meaning to Easter. There is a newness of life because of Easter. Easter is resurrection, a declaration of power perceived in the hearts of all believers. Easter is about living life anew not just a day.

The most important thing in life, is to know Christ and experience this mysterious power of a loving divine God whose son, Jesus, intercedes for us. The follow scriptures are written by Paul:

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. – Philippians 3:10

I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven. – Ephesians 1:19-20

This power is past, present and future. We are forgiven of all the mess ups and wrong doings of the past. Embracing this forgiveness we begin to embody a new heart. A heart receiving this true love will relinquish the painful perceptions and actions of the past, replacing those hurtful expressions of pain with compassionate expressions of love in the present. We begin to take the “trail of truth” as we have faith that..

The presence of God is true security. There really isn’t any other. Divine love is the full affirmation of who we are. Thomas Keating from The Human Condition

We must know who God is to know who we are. Life lived on the “trail of truth“, trusting the love of the Father, is transformed from the place of a hopeless, hateful, hard and hurting heart.

What we believe about who God is determines how we’ll live.Jeff Lucas, from Faith in the Fog

The presence of God’s power gives us a heart change, impacting not only our future but the people in our lives as well. The security of His loving power pours out of us into the lives of others. The “trail of truth” begins with trust. Trusting that our God’s love is unfailing and his power is unyielding for all his children all the time. That is who we are, the recipients of the of the resurrection power.

…the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead two thousand years ago is available to us right now to transform the weaknesses in our lives into strengths. Rick Warren from God’s Power to Change Your Life.

The “Bleeding Heart” flower gives the image of a heart full and overflowing. Easter speaks to this kind of heart. A heart maintained by the powerful love of the Father which must be carefully attended. As with the delicate flower, it must have the opportunity to absorb the right light and water. Nourished through His word and strengthen by the company of other believers. Easter is a transforming life walk, brimming with hope and blooming with love bursting with the power from the light of the Son.

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As the summer morning opens up with a quiet vibrance of life and sunshine, I sit, stilled by the sound of the constant water fall flowing in my back yard pond.

I consider struggles; from my personal life of the past 4 years (a job loss, depression of a spouse, loss of a parent, 3 moves in 4 years) to the current news headlines (international and national violence, African plagues and a very public suicide).What pulled me through those life events? What do we all need to live in this chaotic world?

The word Courage came to mind.

Does courage require strength, pride, self-confidence and an intelligent mind? For me finding courage was acknowledging my weakness, living in humility, accepting my vulnerabilities, embracing my fears, loving instead of hating, and opening my heart to a trusting hope in my Lord not my own strength and abilities.

Psalm 31:24 and Psalm 27:14 helped make the connection for me that a courageous heart is a hopeful heart, steadfast in expecting strength from God. The following are different translations of those verses:

PSALM 31:24

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! AMP

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! NLT

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. NIV

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,all you who wait for the Lord! ESV

PSALM 27:14

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. AMP

Wait patiently for the Lord.Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. NLT

Wait for the Lord;be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. NIV

Wait for the Lord;be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! ESV

Reading all of these versions conveys that courage of the heart involves waiting and hoping confidently in God. A humble heart is the key to placing all your hope and trust in God creating a courageous life open to His purpose. Prideful hearts fear failure striving for self perfection living a cautious life in a comfort zone, stifling God’s direction.

Courage for the impossible can only be found in the possibility of humility.Ann VosKamp

Jesus, the example of courage, gave his life as he humbled himself, the son of God, to fulfill God’s purposes.

“he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8).

His courage is the source of our hope as we wait and expect the Lord to be the provider of our strength and courage.

So be strong and courageous….

Can you be courageous? You have a choice. It is a life style, a life focus, built on the hope and trust in the love of God. Still your heart and see how God’s presence will light a way to a vibrant life of courageous choices.

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Is courage a virtue, an inborn gift, an attitude, a life necessity or a choice? The knowledge and application of courage creates a foundational focus change of the heart giving an expanded version of life.

Definitions:

The English word “courage” has its origins in the Latin work “cuer” meaning heart. In today’s English language it means “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear.” (dictionary.com)

The new testament word for courage in the Greek means to “be confident, derived from the root word “to be of good cheer”. (Vines)

Quotes:

“Courage is grace under pressure.” Ernest Hemingway

“Courage is not the lack of fear, it is acting in spite of it.” Mark Twain

“You can not get to courage without walking through vulnerability” Brene Brown

“Courage for the impossible can only be found in the possibility of humility.” Ann VosKamp

“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” Theodore Roosevelt

“Success in not final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

“To grow beyond self-rejection we must have the courage to listen to the voice calling us God’s beloved sons and daughters, and the determination always to live our lives according to this truth.” Henri Nouwen

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of very virtue at the testing point.” C. S. Lewis

Bible references:

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deut 31:6 (NLT)

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!” Psalm 31:24 (AMP)

But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (Message)
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 (ESV)

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” I Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)

“And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.” I John 2:28 (NLT)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV

What strikes you as you read these definitions, quotes and scriptures regarding the meaning of courage?

Paradox?

Courage arises from fear, a loss of strength, humility not pride, vulnerability not control, faith not certainty and it is the underlying ingredient for all virtues.

Could it be that the fruit of the Spirit feeds courage or does courage feed the fruit of the Spirit? OR both?

Courage is from the heart of the person. Courage says something about you. Be encouraged to seek courage, accepting your fears and weakness, be faithfully focused on the truth of God’s love for you. More on courage to come……

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Cathy T. Burns LPC-S

The purpose of this blog is to lead others to live with intention, focusing each day through the eyes of faith allowing a healing of heart, soul, mind and body through the presence of God... living #Hope(full)